I received my BA (1991) and MA (1992) in Economics from UCD, and my PhD from the University of Keele in 1997. I was previously Professor of Economics at University College Dublin, and Director of the UCD Geary Institute between 2003 and 2012. I have held visiting appointments at Princeton University, University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, the Australian National University, University College London and the University of Warwick.

I have, together with colleagues, published papers in journals such as the American Economic Review, Economic Journal, Economica, Economics of Education Review, Economics Inquiry, Economic and Social Review, European Economic Review, Fiscal Studies, Health Economics, Health Psychology, Journal of the European Economic Association, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, and Labour Economics.

You will find my full list of publications on this site too, as well as a list of talks and seminars, and some links to media and other activity. A video where I chat about economic policy is here or below.

Does effective economic policy matter to you? Professor Colm Harmon believes policy makers should ensure they focus on people who need help and encourage those in a better position, for the long term.